DETERMINANTS OF FARMER SUICIDE SYNDROME: A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS

Abstract

This communication delves into the suicide syndrome among farmers, leading to their tragic decision to commit suicide. It examines the factors driving this drastic and irreversible choice, with a specific focus on Mandya and Haveri districts in Karnataka. A total of 60 kin member of an affected farmers family was interviewed personally to obtain first-hand data using well-structured and pre-tested interview schedule. The results revealed that, correlation coefficient of independent variables of affected farmers, age, education, farming experience, cosmopoliteness, scientific orientation, information seeking behaviour and deferred gratification have exhibited positive and highly significant (p<0.01) relationship with suicide syndrome among pooled affected farmers. Correlation coefficients of independent variables for non-affected farmers, farming experience, family type, caste, economic motivation, innovativeness, and risk orientation have exhibited positive and highly significant (p<0.01) relationship with suicide syndrome among pooled non-affected farmers. Results of multiple regression analysis carried out for affected farmers in Mandya and Haveri districts reveal that, scientific orientation (t=2.82 ** ), information seeking bahaviour (t=2.50 ** ) and management orientation (t=2.81 ** ) have shown positive and highly significant contribution at one per cent level. Multiple regression analysis for non-affected farmers indicates that, among six independent variables, management orientation contributed significantly (t=2.68 ** ) for the suicide syndrome level at one per cent level. Keywords : determina